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Student Portal Instructions

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Accommodations

Note Taking Services icon

Note Taking

Testing accommodations icon

Testing

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Alternative Formats

Interpreting and Transcribing Services icon

Communication Access



Requesting Accommodations

Logging into the Student Portal and signing SDS agreements

  • Go to sds.utk.edu, and click on the Student Portal link. Once selected you will be redirected to the login page.
  • Please sign in with your UTK Net ID and password.
  • Once signed in, please read and acknowledge the required agreements.
  • You must do this at the beginning of each semester to gain full access to the student portal. These agreements primarily pertain to the processes to be followed for certain accommodations

Requesting accommodations and course access letters

At the beginning of each semester, you must specify the courses in which you may want to use accommodations, which then prompts the system to send course access letters to the corresponding instructors.  Courses will be available in the student portal the day after you register.

  • After logging into the student portal, locate the My Accommodations sidebar menu, which will appear on the left-hand side of your screen.
  • Select the List Accommodations link, located within the My Accommodations sidebar.
  • Under Step 1, use the checkboxes to select the courses in which you would like to request accommodations.
  • Select the Step 2 link to customize your accommodations.
  • Locate the Select Accommodations box, which is located beneath each individual course.
  • Select the approved accommodations you wish to utilize for each individual course.
  • All testing accommodations are grouped together as Alternative Testing, but they will be listed in detail on the course access letter.
  • If any of your accommodations appear to be missing or incorrect, please contact your coordinator.
  • Select the Submit Accommodation Request link located at the bottom of the page.
  • Within one business day, your instructor(s) will receive an email notification that includes each accommodation along with a brief description.

NEXT STEPS:

  • Confirm your note taker requests for each applicable course in the Student Portal.
  • Request any needed course materials in alternate format.
  • If you need to take a quiz, test, or, exam in the SDS Testing Center, complete an exam request at least 7 days in advance (or four weeks for final exams)

Modify an Accommodation Request

  • Log in to the Student Portal. Choose My Dashboard from the menu on the left side of the screen.
  • A list of classes with accommodations already requested will be shown. On the gray bar with the name of your classes listed, click on Modify Request to the right of the screen.
  • Select the box beside what accommodations you want to add or remove the check beside the accommodations you want to remove.
  • Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and choose Update Request.

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Note Taking Services

Confirming requests for a note taker

  • If you included notetaking assistance when requesting your accommodations, you will then need to confirm each request.
  • After logging into the student portal, locate the My Accommodations sidebar menu, which will appear on the left-hand side of your screen.
  • Select the Notetaking Services link, located within the My Accommodations sidebar.
  • If you do not see the Notetaking Services link, please refer to the instructions on requesting your course access letters or contact your coordinator for support.
  • Once the Notetaking Services link has been selected, check to see that you are in the correct term.
  • To request notetaking services, select the Confirm Now link for each course in which you would like a notetaker.
  • After confirming the notetaking services request, SDS will work to hire a peer notetaker in the course. It may take up to a week for a notetaker to be hired.

 

Accessing notes

  • Once a notetaker is assigned to the course and has uploaded notes, you will be able to access the notes by selecting the Available Notes for Download
  • Once you have selected the Available Notes for Download link, a drop-down box will appear that lists the date in which the notes were taken. You may download the notes as needed by selecting the Download Note link located next to that individual note’s file.
  • Once a notetaker has been assigned, please allow at least 48 hours after the course has ended for notes to appear. You may contact Notetaking Services if any problems arise.

 

NEXT STEPS:

  • Review notes on a regular basis.
  • Notify SDS right away if you have any questions or concerns.
  • Cancel your note taking request in the Student Portal if at any time you no longer require this accommodation for a course.

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Alternative Testing

BEFORE scheduling quizzes, tests, or a final exam (QTF) in the SDS Student Portal:

  • Determine if QTFs are being administered online OR if everyone is taking them in person in class.
  • Online QTFs will not be scheduled in SDS, as all students in the class will identify their own testing spot. While rare, if you utilize assistive technology that is not compatible with online exams, the SDS Testing Center will coordinate a time for you to take the QTF in SDS.
  • Talk to your instructor if you have in-person QTFs to find out if they would like to provide the accommodations themselves OR if they would like you to schedule to take the test in class.

How to Schedule a Quiz, Test, or Final (QTF)

  • After logging into the student portal, locate the My Accommodations sidebar menu, which will appear on the left-hand side of your screen. If you do not see the Alternative Testing link, please refer to the instructions on requesting your course access letters or contact your coordinator for support.
  • Select the Alternate Testing link, located within the My Accommodations sidebar.
  • Select the drop-down box under the Alternate Testing Agreement(s) section and choose the course in which you would like to schedule the QTF.
  • Once the course is selected, click the Schedule an Exam
  • If your professor has submitted an alternative testing agreement, the terms and conditions will appear at the top of the page. Please review, as your professor may have listed important details regarding QTFs for their course.
  • After reviewing the terms and conditions of scheduling a QTF, scroll down and locate the Exam Detail section.
  • Once located, you will need to complete the following fields:
  • Request Type (quiz, test, or final)
  • Date (date of the QTF that was approved by your professor)
  • Time (time of the QTF that was approved by your professor)
  • Services Requested as applicable (please select the accommodation(s) you would like to utilize for this QTF)
  • Required Technology (optional field, select only if applicable)
  • Additional Note (optional field, you may enter in any information you believe to be relevant for the QTF)
  • Once the information is completed, select the Add Exam Request

How to Modify a Quiz, Test, or Final

  • After logging into the student portal, locate the My Accommodations sidebar menu, which will appear on the left-hand side of your screen.
  • Select the Alternate Testing link, located within the My Accommodations sidebar.
  • Locate the upcoming QTF request(s) for the current term section.
  • QTFs will be listed in chronological order.
  • Locate the scheduled QTF you would like to modify.
  • Select the Modify Request link for the QTF you wish to edit.
  • If your professor has submitted an alternative testing agreement, the terms and conditions will appear at the top of the page. Please review, as your professor may have listed important details regarding QTFs for their course. You will not be able to modify your exam if the professor has not submitted an Alternative Testing Agreement.
  • Locate the Terms and Conditions of Modifying Exams section and carefully review the information.
  • After reviewing the terms and conditions of scheduling a QTF, scroll down and locate the Exam Detail section.
  • Once located, you will need to complete the following fields:
  • Request Type (quiz, test, or final)
  • Date (date of the QTF that was approved by your professor)
  • Time (time of the QTF that was approved by your professor)
  • Services Requested as applicable (please select the accommodation you would like to utilize for this QTF)
  • Required Technology (optional field, select only if applicable)
  • Additional Note/ Reason to Modify (you must enter an explanation regarding why you need to modify your original exam request)
  • Select the Update Exam Request link.

How to Cancel a Quiz, Test, or Final

  • After logging into the student portal, locate the My Accommodations sidebar menu, which will appear on the left-hand side of your screen.
  • Select the Alternate Testing link, located within the My Accommodations sidebar.
  • Locate the upcoming QTF request(s) for the current term section.
  • QTFs will be listed in chronological order.
  • Locate the scheduled QTF you would like to cancel.
  • Select the Cancel Request link for the QTF you wish to cancel.
  • Locate the QTF to be Cancelled section.
  • Select the Confirm Cancellation link.

 

NEXT STEPS:

  • Cancel any QTFs you no longer wish to take in SDS, if applicable.
  • Modify QTF dates in the Student Portal if your instructor changes a testing date for  a QTF you have already scheduled.
  • Notify SDS right away if you have any questions or concerns.

 

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Alternative Formats

Requesting Materials in Alternative Formats

  1. After logging into the student portal, locate the My Accommodations side bar menu, which will appear on the left-hand side of your screen.
  2. Select the Alternative Formats link, located within the My Accommodations side bar.
  3. Once the Alternative Formats link has been selected, check to see that you are in the correct term.
  4. Locate the Alternative Formats Preference section and use the dropdown menu to update your alternative format preference, if needed. The preference selected should match the accommodations for which you are approved (e.g. select PDF for the accommodation of Printed Materials in PDF Format).
  5. Next, locate the Reading Materials box, which will appear in the Additional Book or Reading Materials section.
  6. Once located, you will need to complete the fields listed below. Although not all fields are required, please provide as much information as you can.
  • Select class (required)
  • Reading material title (required)
  • IBSN (optional)
  • Publisher (optional)
  • Author (optional)
  • Edition (optional)
  • Note (optional)

7. Click the Submit Request button.

Uploading Receipts

  1. Log into the Student Portal.
  2. After logging into the student portal, locate the My Accommodations sidebar menu, which will appear on the left-hand side of your screen. If you do not see the Alternative Formats link, please refer to the instructions on requesting your course access letters or contact your coordinator for support.
  3. Select the Alternative Formats link, located within the My Accommodations side bar.
  4. Once the Alternative Formats link has been selected, check to see that you are in the correct term (e.g. Summer 2020).
  5. Locate the File Information box, located within the Upload Book Receipts section.
  6. To upload your book receipts, click the Browse button, and select the file that you wish to upload.
  • More information about maximum file sizes and acceptable file types can be found by clicking the Read File Upload Instruction next to Important Note and then clicking the Acceptable File Types

7.Select the course associated with the book receipt, and then click the Upload Receipt button.

Downloading Textbooks

  1. After logging into the student portal, locate the My Accommodations side bar menu, which will appear on the left-hand side of your screen.
  2. Select the Alternative Formats link, located within the My Accommodations side bar.
  3. Once the Alternative Formats link has been selected, check to see that you are in the correct term (e.g. Summer 2020).
  4. Locate the List Books Currently Being Processed heading.
  5. If your book is ready to download and you have submitted a copy of your receipt, a Download Book button will be present next to your book.
  6. Click the Download Book button, and a popup window will open redirecting you to a Microsoft 365 login page.
  7. On this page, login with your UTK email ID and password and click the Sign In button.
  8. Once logged in, a OneDrive page will open, and your book materials should be present.
  9. Select the file you wish to download and then click the Download button located in the menu bar at the top of the page.

 

NEXT STEPS:

 

  • Notify SDS if you receive any course materials from an instructor that do not work properly with your assistive technology.
  • Notify SDS right away if you have any questions or concerns.

 

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Communication Access

Requesting a transcriber or interpreter for class

  • After logging into the Student Portal, find My Accommodations on the menu to the left of your screen. Choose List Accommodations, and then Step 1 should pop up on the center of your screen. Under Step 1, use the checkboxes to select the courses for which you would like to request accommodations.
  • Select the Step 2 link to customize your accommodations.
  • Locate the Select Accommodations box beneath each individual course. Select the approved accommodations you wish to utilize for each individual course.
    • Choose either “sign language interpreting” or “transcribing”, depending on your accommodation along with any other applicable accommodations.
    • All testing accommodations are grouped together as Alternative Testing, but they will be listed in detail on the course access letter.
  • Select the Submit Accommodation Request link located at the bottom of the page.
    • Within one business day, your instructor(s) will receive an email notification that includes each accommodation along with a brief description.
    • SDS will be notified of your request for either a sign language interpreter or transcriber.

Modifying an Accommodation Request

  • Log in to the Student Portal. Choose My Dashboard from the menu on the left side of the screen.
  • A list of classes with accommodations already requested will be shown. On the gray bar with the name of your classes listed, click on Modify Request to the right of the screen.
  • Select the box beside what accommodations you want to add or remove the check beside the accommodations you want to remove.
  • Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and choose Update Request.

Accessing class transcripts

  • Within 48 hours after a class, the transcriber will upload your transcript to the SDS Portal.
  • Log in to the Student Portal.
  • Under My Accommodations on the menu to the left of your screen, choose Communication Access.
  • A list of your classes this semester with your assigned transcribers will appear. Under each class, choose “Available Transcript(s) (Click to Expand)”.
  • Once you have selected “Available Transcripts (Click to Expand)”, a drop-down box will appear that lists the date of the class that the transcript is for. You may download the transcripts as needed by selecting the Download Transcript link located next to the file name.
    • If it is beyond 48 hours after the class and you do not see an uploaded transcript, email
      interpreting@utk.edu
      and let us know. Please include the class name and the transcript dates needed.
      o If an agency other than UTK is transcribing your class, they may also upload them to a different folder they provide you access to. SDS will transition those transcripts to the Student Portal, but you will have access in both locations.

Request a Sign Language Interpreter or Transcriber for events outside of class meetings

  • For academic events outside of class meetings (meetings with professors, group meetings, advising appointments, field trips, etc.) a request can be made for SDS to provide an interpreter or transcriber.
  • After logging into the student portal, locate My Accommodations on the menu to the left of your screen. Click on Communication Access.
  • Choose the tab at the top right of the page “Custom Requests”.
  • Two boxes pop up and you must choose whether the accommodation is for your class or for an event outside of your class.
    o If you choose Classroom Accommodation, then you are redirected to the list of your classes where you will choose which classes you want accommodations in.

    • If you choose Schedule Custom Request, you are directed to another site. Under Custom Request Form, there is a drop-down box and you must select the class that requires an interpreter or transcriber. After you have chosen the class or event, choose Continue to Specify Custom Request.
  • The Event Information page is shown. Please enter the information that you know about the event:
    • Name
    • Speaker
    • Date & time
    • Location
    • Additional information that would assist SDS in scheduling an interpreter or transcriber.
  • Select the Submit Custom Request link.
  • SDS will review the request and either assign an interpreter or transcriber or contact you for more information.

NEXT STEPS:

  • Review and download transcripts on a regular basis.
  • Notify SDS right away if you have any questions or concerns.
  • Communicate with SDS by emailing interpreting@utk.edu if your schedule changes, you are not attending class, a class cancels, or you will be late to a class.
  • Cancel your accommodation for interpreting or transcribing if you no longer need them for your course.

 

Download Communication Access Instructions in PDF

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